He was taught the world of cinema from his father who graduated from Nihon University College of the Arts and went on to work as an assistant director at Nikkatsu but failed mid-career. At three years old, he watched his first film "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" which then was newest title from Steven Spielberg. From around this time, he started reading the Bible, both the New and the Old Testament, as was suggested by his Christian mother. He was raised in a home with no television and did not join his peers until elementary school. By that time, it was routine to watch classic films every weekend with his father. During his high school and university years, he frequented rental video stores and at his peak year he saw 500 films.
